Long-Life Noodles with Green Tea

Description:

Many famous dishes cooked with tea come from the Yangtze River Valley where there are countless tea farms. A popular way of serving noodles during Wuhan’s very hot summers is to combine them with ingredients like tofu and green tea that are considered "cooling" in Chinese culture.

Ingredients:

Long-Life Noodles with Green Tea

8 ounces udon or whole-wheat noodles

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 teaspoon loose green tea leaves, preferably gunpowder (optional)

2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger

2 cloves garlic, minced

8 ounces flavored baked tofu (see Shopping Tip), cut into matchsticks

1 small red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1 small yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips

4 scallions, cut diagonally into 2-inch pieces

2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Preparation:

1

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook noodles according to the package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water to prevent sticking. Set aside.

Stir in the noodles, scallions, soy sauce and rice vinegar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir in sesame oil and pepper. Toss to combine. Serve warm or cold.

Tips:

Shopping Tip: Precooked "baked tofu" is firmer than water-packed tofu and comes in a wide variety of flavors. We prefer flavors like "teriyaki," "Thai" and "savory" in this recipe. You might also like flavored baked tofu on a sandwich or in a stir-fry.